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International projects

One of the many ways in which HAN displays its international focus is through international projects.

Each faculty has its own specific cross-national initiatives. Some international projects are HAN-wide and include students and teaching staff from all faculties.

Theewaterskloof

A striking example is our community project in Theewaterskloof municipality, South Africa, where students and staff of HAN University of Applied Sciences and the University of the Western Cape in South Africa help local communities to develop small businesses. The project gives students a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience while at the same time making a very valuable contribution to society.

Key aims of the project are:
• To provide students with a valuable work placement including practical support and supervision
• To strengthen capabilities a different levels within the Theewaterskloof community
• To support community empowerment and engagement in Theewaterskloof

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the project, all the departments at both universities are involved in carrying out project activities, teaching or doing research.

Over the past 2 years, 111 students have worked in Theewaterskloof on 59 different projects. Most of these are multi-year, multidisciplinary projects, focused mainly on education and health. Some examples are:

A project where students in the fields of industrial design, psychotherapy and speech therapy work together to design toys for children with a mental health disorder

An education project in Genadendal, where students of education, social work, physiotherapy and occupational therapy together support home-based care programmes for a local elementary school

A project in Grabouw that allows students in the fields of built environment, educational theory and industrial design to build outdoor play equipment while simultaneously helping teaching staff

Co-Create Bangalore

Another example of internationalisation at HAN is our involvement in a community project in Bangalore, India. Together with the Christ University in Bangalore, students from different faculties help to improve living standards of the local community.

The project’s aim is first and foremost to give students a valuable learning experience while simultaneously making a contribution to society. The project provides a practice-based learning opportunity in a different cultural setting. Students gain practical knowledge in their field and, equally important, enhance their social, cultural and language skills.